System for handling and racking pipe in the hold of a vessel

ABSTRACT

A well drilling rig is mounted on a vessel afloat on the water and has a pipe handling system for moving drill pipe and drill collars between positions in racks extending generally vertically in the hold of the vessel and a position vertically aligned with the center of the derrick. The derrick has an overhead gantry crane which supports a vertical guide post, and a pipe supporting head is vertically shiftable on the guide post. A lower positioning arm engages the lower end of the guide post and a pipe guide. The crane and the positioning arm are actuatable in opposite directions to position the pipe as it is being lowered into or removed from the rack.

United States Patent 1 Howard et a1.

[ 1 Dec. 30, 1975 [54] SYSTEM FOR HANDLING AND RACKING PIPE IN THE HOLD OF A VESSEL [73] Assignee: Byron Jackson lnc., Long Beach,

Calif.

22 Filed: Nov. 22, 1974 21 Appl. No.1526,207

[52] US. Cl. 214/25; 114/.5 D; 175/85 [51] Int. Cl. E21B 19/02 [58] Field of Search 214/25, 1 P, 1 BB; 114/.5 D; 175/85 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,561,811 2/1971 Turner 294/90 3,592,347 7/1971 Kelly 114/.5 D X 24 l E a y Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John 0. Evans, Jr.

57 ABSTRACT A well drilling rig is mounted on a vessel afloat on the water and has a pipe handling system for moving drill pipe and drill collars between positions in racks extending generally vertically in the hold of the vessel and a position vertically aligned with the center of the derrick. The derrick has an overhead gantry crane which supports a vertical guide post, and a pipe supporting head is vertically shifta'ble on the guide post. A lower positioning arm engages the lower end of the guide post and a pipe guide. The crane and the positioning arm are actuatable in opposite directions to position the pipe as it is being lowered into or removed from the rack.

18 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheetlof 10 3,929,235

Fla. 1.

US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet20f 10 3,929,235

FIG 2.

US. atent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet30f 10 3,929,235

US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet4of 10 3,929,235

FIG. 4

US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 SheetSof 10 3,929,235

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet70fl0 3,929,235

.8. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet8of 10 3,929,235

FIG-i 10.

US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet9of 10 3,929,235

,8. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 10 of 10 3,929,235

e/ w w /az FIG: 15.

SYSTEM FOR HANDLING AND RACKING PIPE IN THE HOLD OF A VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the drilling of wells, such as oil and/or gas wells, at offshore locations from floating vessels, it is the practice to rack the stands of drill pipe and the drill collars when the drill string is being round tripped, say, to change the bit at the lower end of the drill string. Various racks have been provided to rack the drill pipe and collars in the derrick or on the deck of the vessel, as well as in the hold of the vessel. A stand of drill pipe may be ninety feet in length and therefore must be constrained against movement relative to the derrick as may be caused by pitching or rolling of the vessel.

In some cases it is desired to rack the pipe in such a manner as to dispose the bulk of the weight low in the vessel to lower the center of gravity of the vessel when the pipe is racked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for moving pipe stands between racked positions extending downwardly into the hold of a drilling vessel and a position aligned with the center of the derrick. At the latter position, the pipe, including drill collars, can be made up in or broken out of the drill string.

More particularly, the invention provides crane means located in the derrick and shiftable in opposite directions in a horizontal plane. The crane means supports a vertical guide post, the lower end of which is connected with a positioning arm which is shiftable in opposite directions in a horizontal plane. A pipe supporti ng head is vertically shiftable on the guide post and is adapted to engage the stand of pipe to raise or lower the stand, while the stand is positioned by actuation of the crane and the positioning arm horizontally, whereby the pipe supported in the supporting head is moved between a racked position and a position aligned with the rotary drilling table.

Accordingly, the pipe or drill collar stands are at all times constrained against undesired movement in the derrick while moving between the racked positions and the positions at the center of the derrick where the pipe and collars are made up in and broken out of the drill string.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of forms in which it may be embodied. These forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. They will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed descriptions are not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation, showing a drilling vessel equipped with a pipe handling system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view, as taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section, as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the lower positioning apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section, as taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the crane apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a cable drive for effecting shifting of the crane boom and the dolly on the boom.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the portion of the cable drive of FIG. 5 for translating the crane boom;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the portion of the drive of FIG. 5 for translating the crane dolly on the boom; 7

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in top plan and horizontal section, showing the lower positioning arm and support and operating means therefor;

FIG. 9 is a view in vertical section, as taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the connection of the guide post and its connection to the crane dolly, the pipe supporting head, and also showing the connection of positioning arm with the lower end of the guide post, a stand of drill pipe being supported in the supporting head and engaged in the lower guide;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged horizontal section, as taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10:

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical section, as taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged horizontal section, as taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical section, as taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in the drawings, a drilling vessel V is afloat on a body of water W and has a drilling derrick D mounted thereon, with the usual derrick floor F suitably spaced above the deck of the vessel. As is well known, the drilling operations are conducted through a moonhole M amidships. A length of drill string S is shown as extending downwardly through the water from the derrick. As seen in FIG. 2, the drill string is supported in the usual slips of a. rotary drilling table R. A rathole H receives the usual swivel and Kelley K by which drilling operations are performed when the Kelley is supported by the swivel on a drilling hook 10, which is suspended by a cable 1.1 which is reaved about a hook supporting traveling block 12 and an upper crown block 13 atop the water table 14. The cable is anchored at a dead end and wound on and unwound from a drawworks drum 15 to raise and lower the hook 10.

The hook 10 and traveling block 12 are shown as being stabilized and guided by link means 16 which are connected with carriage means 17 adapted to move vertically in stabilizing rails 18 disposed vertically in the derrick, to one side thereof.

Stands P of drill pipe and drill collars are adapted to be stored or racked in wells 1'9 which extend downwardly from the derrick floor F, in horizontally spaced relation, as seen in FIG. 3, these wells having a number of scabbards 20 into which the stands of pipe and collars are inserted for storage and from which the pipe stands and collars are removed by the apparatus of the present invention.

The pipe handling apparatus includes a crane assembly C aloft in the derrick, a lower guide and positioning assembly G just above the derrick floor, guide post 21 3 extending between and connected with the crane assembly and the positioning assembly, and a traveling support head 22 vertically shiftable along the guide post 21.

The crane assembly, as generally seen in FIGS. 4 through 7, and 10, includes a horizontally disposed support structure, including a pair of horizontally spaced side rails 23 rigidly supported on side legs 24 of the derrick, and otherwise where necessary to sustain the heavy crane weight and pipe weight. These side rails 23 project outwardly at their ends 25 through the legs 24 of the derrick and are connected at 26 with a transverse support member 27. The other ends 28 of the crane side rails 23 extend inwardly into the derrick to approximately the middle thereof. Supported by the side rails 23 for movement between an inner position, as seen in FIG. 4, and an outer position between the outer rail ends 25, is a transversely extended traveling boom or beam 29 on which a dolly 30 is laterally shiftable between the side rails 23 to support the guide post 21 for compound movement laterally between the rails 23 and from the inner position, closest to the center of the derrick and the retracted position.

More specifically, the side rails 23 are channel beams opening towards one another and receiving crane rollers 31 mounted in supports 32 at opposite ends of the boom or beam 29, and engaged with internal rails 33 within the side rails 23. The dolly 30, as best seen in FIG. 10, is a rectangular cage or body structure'surrounding the beam 29 and having upper rollers 34 and lower rollers 35 shiftably supporting the dolly frame for movement along the cross beam or boom 29 on the upper and lower webs or surfaces thereof.

The vertical guide post 21 is suspended from the dolly 30 by a first bracket connected beneath the dolly frame, and having a pivot pin 36 connected with a depending bracket 37, which has another pivot pin 38 connected with the upper end of the guide post 21, so that the guide post is pivotal laterally with respect to the derrick and towards and away from the center of the derrick. The beam or boom 29 is shiftable along the rails 23 and the dolly 30 is shiftable along the beam 29, so that the guide post 21 is also bodily shiftable latterally in the derrick, and towards and away from the center of the derrick.

Illustrative means for effecting shifting of the boom, and the dolly on the boom, are shown in FIG. 4 and diagrammatically in FIG. as a compound cable system, including a boom shifting cable system 40, and a dolly shifting cable system 41. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the boom shifting cable system, and FIG. 5 is a diagram of the dolly shifting cable system.

As shown, the boom shifting cable system 40 includes a cable drum 40a adapted to be driven in opposite directions by an air or other motor M40 (FIG. 4). A first or driven cable 40b is wrapped on the drum 40a and extends in opposite directions to a first pair of laterally spaced sheaves 40c and 40d mounted at opposite sides of the derrick on supports 40? on the crane frame member 27. The cable 40b then extends over sheaves 40f and 40g from the respective sheaves 40c and 40d, these sheaves, 40f and 405, being carried by supports 40h affixed to the ends of the boom 29, and on opposite sides thereof. The cable 40b extends from the sheaves 40f and 405 to dead end anchors 40j appropriately located on the stationary crane frame structure.

It will thus be seen that, if the ,drum 40a is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, cable 40b is wound on and payed off the drum, also as shown by the arrows, to pull the beam 29 towards the center of the derrick. Reversal of the direction of drum rotation will move the beam in the reverse direction towards the outer position in the derrick. Since the beam shifting force applied by the cable 401; is at one end of the beam only, a counterbalancing, or force equalizing cable 40j is employed. This cable 40j extends between end anchors 40k, about sheaves 401 and 40m at opposite ends of the beam, and on opposite sides thereof in opposing relation to the powered cable sheaves 40f and 405, respectively. The cable 40j then extends about suitably mounted idler sheaves 40n located to keep the cable run to the side of the derrick. Thus, as shown by the arrows, the force applied by cable 40b to move the beam 29 applies a corresponding force on the cable 40j at the counterbalance sheaves 401 and 4051}.

Movement of the beam 29 by the cable drive means 40 is independent of movement of the dolly 30 by the cable drive means 41, which includes a cable drum 41a adapted to be driven by a suitable air or other reversible motor M41 (FIG. 4) to move cable 41b in opposite directions to cause the dolly 30 to be shifted along the beam 29. At opposite sides of the drum 41b, the cable extends about sheaves 41c at opposite ends and on the same sheaves 41d mounted for rotation on the dolly 30, about another pair of sheaves 41? at opposite ends, and on the same side of the beam 29, in opposed relation to the sheaves 41c, and finally, to anchors 41f suitably located on the frame structure.

Accordingly, when the drum 41a is driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, to wind in and pay out the cable, as also shown by the arrows, the dolly 30 will be moved to the right, and reversal of the direction of drum rotation will reverse the direction of movement of the dolly. The guide post 21 beneath the dolly is thereby shiftable laterally in the derrick, independently of its position between the retracted and innermost positions.

The positioning guide means G includes a supporting frame structure vertically disposed and affixed to the derrick, as seen in FIG. 2. More particularly, the frame structure 50 includes upper and lower horizontal I beams 51 fixed to the derrick, and forming trackways 52 in which an inner rectangular frame 53 is vertically disposed and laterally shiftable with respect to the derrick. The inner frame 53 has upper and lower laterally spaced sets of vertical rollers 54, and horizontal rollers 55 engaged in the trackways S2 to stabilize the inner frame and support it for movement relative to the beams 52. Projecting outwardly from the inner movable frame structure 53 is a suitable platform 56 to accommodate a workman. Also, projecting outwardly from the inner frame 53, and supported by struts and braces 57, is a positioning arm assembly including an outer tube 58 projecting horizontally outwardly from the frame 53 and having reciprocable therein an elongated positioning arm 59. This positioning arm 59 is an elongated beam supported for longitudinal movement with respect to the tube 58 by opposed upper and lower vertical rollers 60 and laterally spaced horizontal rollers 61 suitably supported within the tube 58.

Means are provided for actuating the positioning frame 53 and tube 58 laterally of the derrick and means are provided for actuating the arm 59 longitudinally in the support tube 58. To shift the frame 53 a suitable reversible motor, such as an air or hydraulic motor 62 is mounted on the arm supporting tube 58 to drive a sprocket 63 in opposite directions, and a chain 64 extends between end connections 65 fixed on the upper frame beams 51, so that when the sprocket 63 is driven in a selected direction, the inner frame 53 is horizon tally shifted laterally with respect to the derrick. To shift the positioning arm 59 relative to the support tube 58, another reversible motor 66 is mounted on the support tube 58 to drive a sprocket 67 in opposite directions, and a chain 68 is engaged with the sprocket 67 and extends about spaced sprockets 69 rotatable on the guide tube 58, to end anchors or connections 70 adjacent to the ends of the arm 59, whereby the arm is endwise shiftable towards and away from the center of the derrick.

As will be later described, the inner end of the positioning arm 59 is connected with the lower end of the guide post 21 to control and position the same during operation of the apparatus, and the pipe stand P is slideably engaged and guided by a guide head 71 also connected to the lower end of the guide post 21, while the pipe is lifted or lowered by the lifting or traveling head 22 previously referred to.

This traveling head assembly 22, as seen in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, includes a tubular or rectangular sleeve 72 vertically reciprocably supported on the guide post 21 by suitable vertically spaced, upper and lower rollers 73 mounted within the sleeve 72 and engaged with the four sides of the guide post 21. The sleeve is suspended by a cable 74 connected to the sleeve 72, as at 75, the cable, as seen in FIG. 2, extending upwardly in the derrick, over a pulley 76 mounted beneath the water table 14, and thence downwardly to a powered hoist drum 77, enabling the sleeve 72 to be lowered and raised on the guide post 21.

Projecting from the side of the sleeve 72 facing the center of the derrick, the sleeve has a pair of ears 78 provided with upwardly opening notches 79 and aligned openings 80 for receiving supporting pins 81 and a retainer pin 82 by which the lifting head 83 proper is supported on the sleeve 72. The lifting head 83, as shown, is more particularly the subject matter of the co-pending application of Faustyn C. Langowski, filed Nov. 22, 1974, Ser. No. 526,206, for Head for Pipe Rackers. In general, as shown herein, the head 83 includes a frame or case 84 of rectangular form, from the sides of which the support pins 81 project. At the free end of the case 84 is a support plate 85 having an arcuate opening 86 of a size enabling a drill collar to be received in the opening and supported on a shoulder on the plate 85. Reciprocable in the case 84 is a slide plate 87 having an arcuate opening 88 adapted to receive a stand of drill pipe so that the pipe is supported on the end tool joint on the slide 87. A claw or arm 90 of arcuate form is pivoted at one of its ends, at 91, so as to be movable to the position of FIG. 11 at which the pipe is confined in the slide 87, from an open position enabling the pipe to enter and leave the head.

A suitable fluid actuator cylinder 92 is mounted in the head case 84 and connected with the slide 87 to retract and project it, and another actuator cylinder 93 is disposed in the head case 84 and connected to the claw 90 to open and close it, all as more particularly disclosed in the aforementioned application, Ser. No. 526,206.

Since the guide post 21 is supported beneath the crane dolly 30 and the lifting means 22 is mounted on the guide post, movement of the crane dolly, as described above, will move the upper end of a pipe stand P supported in the head 83 towards and away from the center of the derrick and laterally therein. during the racking and the running of pipe into the well.

As previously indicated, the positioning arm 59 of the positioning guide means G is connected to the lower end of the guide post 21 to position the pipe guide 71. Referring to FlGS. 10, 13 and 14, it will be seen that the guide head .71 and the lower end of the guide post 21 are interconnected with the positioning arm 59, so that the arm 59 can position the pipe stand P over the center of the derrick and move the lower end of the pipe P between the center position and a selected position above a scabbard 20 of the rack wells 19 of the vessel. More particularly, the arm 59 has a support shaft 95 mounted in its inner end, the shaft 95 having a vertically disposed channel member 96 thereon adapted to receive in opposed vertical slots 97 a connector plate orbracket 98, this connector plate 98 is retained in the channel member 96 by an upper retainer pin 99 and lower pivot stop means 100 and provides means for connecting the end of the positioning arm 59 with the guide post 21.

Projecting from the plate 98 is an ear 101 which is pivotally connected by a horizontal pin 102 between spaced ears 103 carried by a carriage assembly 104 which is vertically shiftably disposed in a track assembly 105 within the lower open end 106 of the vertical guide post 21'.' As shown, the post 21 has welded therein spaced wall plates 107' and 108 opposed to one another and having a pair of side plates 109 therebetween to form a trackway in which the carriage assembly 105 is disposed, with the ears 103 projecting outwardly between the spaced walls 107. The carriage assembly includes a vertical main body plate 110, at the upper and lower ends of which are pairs of rollers 111 adapted to engage between the walls 107 and inner rails 112 affixed to the wall 108. Other vertically spaced pairs of rollers 113 are rotatably supported between support bars 114 welded on the carriage body plate 110. Thus,-the carriage assembly 104 is adapted for vertical movement within the post 21 when the positioning arm 59 swings the lower end of the guide post 21 to and from pipe racking positions during operation of the apparatus. Such relative motion of the arm 59 and the post 21 is caused by changes in the effective vertical distance between the positioning arm 59 and the pivotal connection of post 21 with the crane dolly 30, when the post is swung from vertical to a range of angular positions during the racking and unracking of the pipe.

Means are alsoprovided for supporting the guide head 71 on the guide post 21. As best seen in FIG. 13, the post 21 has a mounting plate 115 fixed therein, the mounting plate having vertical slots 116 for receiving ribs 117 of a companion mounting plate 118 for the head 71. The plate 118 is retained in the plate 115 by a lower stop block 119 and an upper retainer pin 120.

The pipe guide head 71 is adapted to receive the pipe stand P and guide the pipe stand as it is raised and lowered by the previously described lifting head 83. The preferred guide head, as generally illustrated is more particularly described and shown in the companion application of Faustyn C. Langowski, filed Nov. 22, 1974, Ser. No. 526,208 for Guide Head For Pipe Rackers.

As previously indicated, the racking apparatus is adapted to handle both drill pipe stands and larger drill collars. Therefor, the guide head 71 is one which is operable to embrace either pipe sizes. More specifically, the head 71 has a body 121 suitably affixed to the support plate 118. The body 121 has a pair of reciprocable slides 122 and 123 provided with arcuate end seats or recesses 124 and 125, respectively, adapted to receive the different pipe sizes. The slides are reciprocable by suitable fluid pressure operated actuators 126 and 127 connected between the body and the respective slides 122 and 123.

The slide 122 is connected with an arm or claw 128 pivotably connected with the body to be closed and retracted or opened responsive to shifting of the slide 122. As seen in FIG. 13, with the slide 122 in its outer or pipe receiving position, the claw 128 confines the pipe in the slide recess 124, correspondingly, when the slide 122 is retracted, the claw 128 will be pivoted open to allow the head to release the pipe. Another claw or arm 129 is pivoted on the body 121 and connected to the slide 123 to be actuated between closed and open positions when the apparatus is handling larger pipe or drill collars.

From the foregoing, it is now apparent that the guide head 71 provides means, responsive to the positioning of the positioning arm 59 to engage and guide the lower end of the pipe as the pipe is being moved to and from racked positions and a position at the center of the well to be made up in or broken out of the drill string, and as the pipe is being raised and lowered by the lifting head 83, as previously described.

In the use of the apparatus in round tripping a string of pipe to and from the well, the following procedure is employed: Referring to FIG. 2, and assuming that the pipe stand P is to be racked, it is seen that the pipe is supported by the lifting head 83, and the lowermost connection with the drill string S has been broken out by the usual pipe tongs (not shown). The usual drill pipe elevator E and supporting links L have been retracted by the link and elevator retracting means 200 of a well known type. The crane C and the guide means G are then operated to transport the pipe P to a position at which the lower end of the pipe is disposed above a selected scabbard 20, in a well 19 of the vessel. The travelling support head assembly 22 is then lowered by the hoist line 74 until the pipe enters the scabbard, at which time the guide head 71 is operated to release the pipe, and the pipe is lowered to the racked position. During the lowering of the pipe to the racked position, the travelling block 12 can also be lowered so that the elevator E can be engaged with the upper end of the drill string S. The string is then again elevated to raise another stand P, the string supported in the rotary table slips, the elevator lowered on the pipe P, and the lifting and guide means 22 and G engaged with the pipe P. Thereafter the pipe P is broken out of the string S and the elevator E retracted to allow the stand to be racked, as before.

Essentially, running the pipe back into the well is a reversal of the above-described operation. The pipe stand P in a selected scabbard is engaged and lifted by the travelling head assembly 22 and by the guide means G. The crane and the guide means are then operated to transfer the pipe to the center position of FIG. 2. Then, the head assembly 22 is lowered to stab the pipe P into the upper end of the drill string S and the tongs make up the connection. The elevator E is then lowered beneath the head 83 and applied to the pipe P, the heads 83 and 71 released from the pipe and retracted, and the elevator E raised to support the drill string and lower it into the well. During lowering of the drill string, the crane and positioning means may be operated to position the lifting head for engagement of the next selected pipe stand in the vessel.

We claim:

1. Well pipe handling apparatus comprising: a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, crane means aloft in said derrick having support means shiftable in opposite directions laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, means for shifting said support means, a guide post depending from said support means, positioning means adjacent to the lower end of said guide post for moving the lower end of said guide post laterally and towards and away from the center of the derrick, pipe engaging guide means also adjacent to the lower end of said guide post, pipe supporting means releasably engageable with a length of pipe and vertically shiftable on said guide post for raising and lowering the lengths of pipe in said pipe engaging guide means, and means for lifting and lowering said pipe supporting means on said guide post.

2. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.

3. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.

4. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.

5. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.

6. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for 9 moving said arm.

7. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.

8. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post.

9. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post.

10. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.

11. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.

12. Well pipe handling apparatus for use in a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, comprising: crane means having means for mounting said crane means aloft in the der rick, said crane means including support means shiftable with respect to said mounting means, a guide post connected, at one end with said support means, pipe lifting head means shiftably mounted on said guide post, and pipe positioning guide means connected with the other end of said guide post, said positioning guide means including means for mounting said positioning guide means adjacent the floor of said derrick.

13. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.

14. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.

15. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means.

16. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for enabling limited longitudinal movement of said positioning guide means relative to said guide post.

17. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm.

18. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means. 

1. Well pipe handling apparatus comprising: a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, crane means aloft in said derrick having support means shiftable in opposite directions laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, means for shifting said support means, a guide post depending from said support means, positioning means adjacent to the lower end of said guide post for moving the lower end of said guide post laterally and towards and away from the center of the derrick, pipe engaging guide means also adjacent to the lower end of said guide post, pipe supporting means releasably engageable with a length of pipe and vertically shiftable on said guide post for raising and lowering the lengths of pipe in said pipe engaging guide means, and means for lifting and lowering said pipe supporting means on said guide post.
 2. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.
 3. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.
 4. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
 5. Well pipe handling aPparatus as defined in claim 1, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.
 6. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for moving said arm.
 7. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crane means comprises horizontal side support rails at opposite sides of said derrick, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, said means for shifting said support means including means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including a horizontal arm connected with said guide post, means supporting said arm for movement laterally in said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
 8. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post.
 9. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post.
 10. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick.
 11. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe supporting means comprises a head having pipe receiving and supporting means, mounting means shiftably mounting said head on said guide post, and hoist means for raising and lowering said mounting means on said guide post, said guide means comprising a guide head having pipe receiving and guiding means, and means connecting said guide head to the lower end of said guide post, including means pivotally supporTing said guide post to said support means for swinging movements laterally of said derrick and towards and away from the center of said derrick, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for compensating for differences in the effective distance between said means pivotally supporting said guide post and said connecting means upon pivotal movement of said guide post from vertical.
 12. Well pipe handling apparatus for use in a derrick having a floor provided with an opening for receiving lengths of well pipe in generally vertically disposed racked positions, comprising: crane means having means for mounting said crane means aloft in the derrick, said crane means including support means shiftable with respect to said mounting means, a guide post connected, at one end with said support means, pipe lifting head means shiftably mounted on said guide post, and pipe positioning guide means connected with the other end of said guide post, said positioning guide means including means for mounting said positioning guide means adjacent the floor of said derrick.
 13. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam.
 14. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam.
 15. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means.
 16. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means, said positioning means and said guide post having connecting means for enabling limited longitudinal movement of said positioning guide means relative to said guide post.
 17. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm.
 18. Well pipe handling apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for mounting said crane means comprises side support rails, a beam extended between said support rails, and means shiftably mounting said beam on said side support rails, said support means being shiftably mounted on said beam, and including means for shifting said support means for translating said beam in opposite directions on said support rails, and means for translating said support means in opposite directions on said beam, said positioning means including an arm connected with said guide post, means for supporting said arm for movement in said derrick, and means for moving said arm, and including means pivotally connecting said guide post to said support means for swinging movements relative to said support means. 